White Says He’ll Seek To Regain Office

by Rick Howlett on February 5, 2012

Former Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White is awaiting sentencing following Saturday morning’s guilty verdict on voter fraud and other felony charges related to the 2010 Republican primary election.

A Hamilton County jury convicted White of six of the seven counts brought against him. White has been automatically removed from office. Each conviction carries a punishment of up to three years in prison.

Prosecutors say White lied on a voter registration form about where he was living during the primary in order to protect his seat on the Fishers City Council in suburban Indianapolis. They say White listed his ex-wife’s address on the form when he was actually living outside his council district.

White says he’ll ask the judge to reduce his felony convictions to misdemeanors to make him eligible to resume his duties as secretary of state. No sentencing date has been set.

White’s eligibility to hold office is also the subject of a civil suit moving through the court system.

He defeated Vop Osili in the 2010 general election. Democrats want Osili to be installed as secretary of state.